Vladimir Poletaev was born on 23 May 1975, in Gorno-Altaysk, the capital city of the Altai Republic in Soviet Russia.

In 2002, he received a doctoral degree from the Russian Academy of the National Economy and Public Administration, overseen by the office of the President of Russia.

He went on to lead the Department of State Entreprise Bankruptcies of the Altai Republic, responsible for property management.

He left the role in 2006, but remained a Minister, now leading the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments.

[1][2] As a senator, he effectively voted to recognise the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics from Ukraine.